The Bravest Man in the British Army: The Extraordinary Life and Death of John Sherwood Kelly

'Today a new major joined us, a Herculean giant of South African origin with a quite remarkable disregard for danger.' The Regimental Diary of The Kings Own Scottish Borderers, July 1915 'Brave as a lion, stubborn as a mule and as quick tempered as his Irish forebears, Kelly VC spoke out about Churchill's support of the White Russians in 1919. This is a well researched and lively read and brings to our attention an early Churchill folly.' _Keith Simpson_ John (Jack) Sherwood Kelly, VC CMG DSO (1880-1931) was a formidable soldier. He fought in British colonial campaigns in the early 1900s, distinguished himself during the First World War at Gallipoli, the Somme and Cambrai, and, after the war, was involved in the British campaign in northern Russia in support of the White Russians. During his military career he achieved fame and notoriety for his mixture of heroic exploits and explosive temperament. In this meticulously researched and vivid biography Jake B. Liphuip tells Sherwood Kellys story and gives a fascinating insight into one of the most remarkable and controversial military men of the period. Kelly had a combat record going back to the 1896 Matabele Revolt. He was awarded the DSO for his exploits in Gallipoli in 1916. During 1917 he commanded 1st Battalion, the Royal Inniskilling Fusiliers and was instrumental in the early success achieved during the Battle of Cambrai for which he was awarded the VC. His later service during the British intervention against the Bolsheviks in 1919 ended in court martial and a highly publicised clash with Winston Churchill. AUTHOR: Joining the British army as a young man and serving with The Royal Anglian Regiment as a commissioned officer, the author pursued a thirty-year career as a history teacher and headmaster of a girls' boarding school and has written on a number of aspects of military history. Specialising in the First and Second World Wars, he has been researching the life of Lieutenant Colonel John Sherwood Kelly for over twenty years. 20 illustrations

About the Author :
Joining the British army as a young man and serving with The Royal Anglian Regiment as a commissioned officer, the author pursued a thirty-year career as a history teacher and headmaster of a girls' boarding school and has written on a number of aspects of military history. Specialising in the First and Second World Wars, he has been researching the life of Lieutenant Colonel John Sherwood Kelly for over twenty years.